Infiniti G25

First Test: 2011 Infiniti G25 Journey

Entry-Level Player Serves Up Modest Performance for a Modest Price

When we first drove Infiniti's new entry-level G25 sedan late last year, we found the car to be a mixed bag. While the G25 was far from a standout dynamically and was relatively light on luxury equipment, it did offer a few advantages over its more expensive G37 brother, namely a lower base price and a smoother V-6 engine. Our impressions remain largely the same after a full week behind the wheel and a trip to our testing facility, where we ran the usual gauntlet of acceleration, braking, and handling measurements.

Our tester, a Blue Slate 2011 G25 sedan with the optional Journey trim package, was about as well equipped as G25s come. As we previously mentioned, to further differentiate the G25 from the upwardly-mobile G37 sedan, Infiniti has chosen to forgo a fair amount of extra equipment that luxury car shoppers have come to appreciate. The G37's Premium, Technology, and Sport packages are unavailable to G25 buyers, meaning that paddle shifters, a 10-speaker Bose stereo, a limited-slip differential, 18-inch wheels, and even navigation are not offered with the budget-oriented car.

Still, our G25 came standard with 17-inch alloys, heated mirrors, eight-way adjustable power/heated seats, leather upholstery, dual-zone climate control, keyless ignition, Bluetooth and iPod connectivity, auto headlights, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, auto up/down windows, and a tilting/telescoping steering wheel. The only option to be found is the power sliding moonroof, at a $1000 premium. Add the obligatory destination fees and the G25 Journey rang in at $34,225. That's a couple grand shy of the G37 Journey's $36,275 entry fee and several hundred dollars shy of the Lexus IS 250's $34,690 base price, a car lacking several of the G25s options and with slightly less horsepower.Visually, the G25 offers few concessions to the G37, with the same elegantly sporty good looks. Even the 17-inch wheels are the same items as on the G37 sedan, making the two cars nearly impossible to tell apart from each other from the outside, without looking at the rear trunk badge. Of course, a peek under the hood will also reveal some subtle differences. The G25's V-6 engine measures in at 2.5 liters and produces a modest 218-horsepower and 187 pound-feet of torque. That's down over 100 horsepower from the 3.7-liter configuration, but the G25 gains little weight advantages, still being saddled with the weight of a V-6.

At our testing grounds, the G25 put in a performance that fell in line with what we were expecting, taking 7.6 seconds to run from 0-60 mph and 15.7 seconds to hit the quarter-mile trap at 90.9 mph. Around the skidpad, the G25 pulled a 0.90 g average and ran through the MT Figure-8 test in 26.9 seconds at a 0.63 g average. Those acceleration figures are slightly off four-cylinder competition from Acura's TSX and Audi's front-wheel-drive A4 2.0T, but the G25's handing numbers handily beat both cars.

On real roads, the G25 performs well, without standing out in any category. Acceleration feels nothing more than adequate, though running through the rev range is a little more satisfying aurally than in the somewhat rougher-sounding G37, the 2.5-liter VQ engine benefitting in that regard from reduced displacement. Gearchanges are generally quick and smooth, with the same seven-speed automatic as in the G37, but we found ourselves wishing for the additional control of the unavailable paddle shifters, a la G37 S. On the freeway, road noise is acceptable, even on the quiet side for a car in this class, and an 80 mph cruising speed can be maintained with ease and comfort. Those in the G25's target market shouldn't be disappointed.

Handling too is generally good, with understeer, transitioning to neutrality, being the name of the game in most situations. The G25's rear end can be made to come around, but it's not as easily manipulated as that of the more powerful G37, where a firm squeeze on the throttle mid-turn will change the car's attitude fairly quickly. We'd like a little more feel and heft from the steering, but otherwise, the G25 is an enjoyable car be the road straight or twisty.There are precious few budget-oriented rear-wheel-drive sedans, so we applaud Infiniti's decision to include the G25 in its lineup. Still, with just a few thousand dollars separating the G25 from the G37, we wonder if the temptation of significantly more power may be too strong for many G series buyers to resist.